Sound recording apparatus



' Feb. 7, 1933.

D. w. RAYNOLDS ET AL 7 1,896,851

SOUND RECORDING APPARATUS Filed March 20', 1930 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 Fig.1

7 my M MI} Inventor's: DavLcl VY. Reynolds, Pau-L J. Schwar-zhaupt, b5WW I Their Attbrneg.

D. w. RA NoLD's ET AL 5 ,85

SOUND RECORDING APPARATUS Filed March 20, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2.

v llllylll r I; i

Inventor-s: David W RCIHHOLdSj PauL J. Schwar-zhaupt, b @Zm/ TheirAttorne Patented Feb. 7

, UNITED TES- PATENT-OFFICE.

DAVID W. RAYNOLDS AND PAUL J. SCHWARZHAUPT, OF SOOTIA, NEW YORK,ASSIGNOBS TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SOUND.RECORDING APPARATUS Application filed larch 80,1980. Serial No. 437,521.

Our invention relates to phonograph sound recording ap aratus andparticularly tosuch apparatus w ich is adapted to be used by the publicand by which a person. may record aspoken message which may betransmltted, for example by mail, in lieu of a written letter. It is theobject of our invention to provide an improved apparatus of the abovementioned character which -shall be reliable, efficient," convenient andsimple to operate,

protected against theft of parts and misuse of the apparatus, andinexpensive to manufacture.

Our invention will be better understood f om the following descriptiontaken in conncction with the accompanying drawings and its scope willvbe appended claims. I

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is 'aper spcctive view of the ,recor inmechanism involving our-invention; Fig; 218 a side view of the cabinetcontaining the recording mechanism with parts broken away; Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the booth which contains handle 14 has beenreleased. The door may now be swung open and in so doing contacts.

the recording apparatus; and'llig'.i4 is a cuit diagram of the apparatusa? In Fig. 3 we have shown]; jreco apparatus enclosed in the. 1' whiconstructed with sound proof walls and door;

The door 2 is spring-clomd and normally is.

locked in closed position. To gain entrance" to the booth. the door-isfirst'unlocked' elec trically by means to be described later and then ispulled open by the handle '3 thereon.

To open the door from the inside it is-provided with the handle 4, theturning of which operates the. latch 5. Within the booth is the,recording cabinet 6,. the microphone 7 into which the operator speaksand which-is adjustably suspended from the ceiling, the.- -hand switch 8for controlling the starting and stopping of the recording. mechanism,

the signal lights 9 and 10, the dome light 11,

and the record blank vending machine 12.v

In this vending machine are a number of rec ord blanks adapted forusewith therecord- Eng apparatus, the machine being constructed to releaseone record blank each time that the proper coin is inserted in the slot13 and the handle 14 operated. Vending machines pointed out in the ofthis characterare well known and there i I .against the xed contact 19.When the is closed the latch cannot be moved from the exterior of thebooth and the .door can be unlocked only by a withdrawal of the catch21. This member is pivotally mounted at 22 and is spring-pressed in thelocking position. I

To move the catch to the unlocking position there is provided anelectromagnet comprising the winding 23 and the core By closing of thecircuit between s rings 17 and 18the magnet is energized an the catch iswithdrawn from the etch 5. In so doing, contact s rings 25 are actuatedto close a holding'clrcuit shunted about s ring 17 and 18 so as-to hold"the door unloc ed after the 27 and 28 mounted on the door are separated.

Since these contacts are in series with-the winding 23,. the catchthereby is released:

shaft'32 having therein a vibration absorbing coupling 33. On the u perend of shaft 32 is mounted the turntab e 34 upon which the record blank35is adapted to be supported. Mounted on suitable guide rods 36 and 37is the carriage 38 which supports the cutting stylus and which is movedslowly and uniformly in one direction by the motor 30.

For this purpose the carriage is provided with a half nut 40- mounted ona short shaft 41 having head 42 and having the spring 43 for normallypressing the nut into en agement with the screw 44. The latter orms apart of the horizontal shaft 45 which is connected by worm gearing 46with shaft 32. Pivotally mounted on the upper portion of the carriage 38is the lever 48 at one end of which is the electromagnetic stylusactuatmg member 49 and at the opposite end I of which is the cam 50. Thecarriage at a stylus are completely covered by the housing 57 whichuntil the carriage is moved to its. initial position does not )ermit ofthe removal of the record blank. efore any return movement of thecarriage is initiated the stylus must be lifted from the record-and thehalf nut must be withdrawn from the cooperating screw. To bring aboutthese results we have provided the apparatus now to be described. Shaft60 mounted on the carriage has at its lower end the bell crank lever 61,one arm of which is forked and engages. the shaft 41 beneath the head 42and the other arm carries a roller 62 adapted to be engaged by the lever63 secured through shaft 64 tothe hand lever 56. At the upper end ofshaft 60 is the finger 66 which is shown projecting through a slot inthe carriage and arranged to engage the cam 50 on lever 48.

- When hand lever 56 is pulled up by' the oplever 63 engages roller 62which erator,

the bell crank 61 and shaft 41 withthrough draws the half nut 40 fromits shaft and through finger 66 depresses the adjacent end of lever 48so as to lift the stylus from the record blank. Continued movement ofthe hand lever 56 causes the entire carriage with parts connectedtherewith to slide on its uides 36 and 37 to its initial position. Justfore it reaches its final position it engages the spring 67, compressingit a small amount while a squared portion of the bell crank 61 engagesone or the other of the two books 68 and 69 which retains the carriagein the returned osition. The hand lever- 56 may then be released and byspring 70 is returned to its initial position. The two books 68 and 69are identical in construction, being both 'voted on the stud 72 andbeing connected y similar links 73 and 74 through in and slotconnections -with-the rocking p ate"7 5. This late is connected throughshaft. 76, crank 7, rod 78 and eccentric 79 to shaft 32 so that when theturntable is again started 65 permit spring 67 to move it forwar the.two hooks 68 and 69 will be caused to oscillate in opposite direction,thus whichever hook retamed the carriage in its returned position willrelease the carriage and .ther liftedofi the recor until molten centric79 rather than toan extreme pos1- tion thereof as illustrated. Upon thereturn movement of the carria e the stylus was fur-5 d blank by theengagement of the lever 48 on the cam 80 which is fixed in position andisso constructed that the stylus operating mechanism 49 is liftedsufiiciently high to enable the operator easily to remove the recordwithout its touching the stylus.

Inasmuch adapted to receive a record on both sides and since it isdesirable to make provision in the machine for permitting two operationsof the machine but-preventing more than two, we

have shown the machine as having the mech lower end of the carriage 38is mounted a spring-pressed pawl 82 which engages. the ratchet 83 towhich is secured the cam 84 and one end of the strap 85 to which isattached the spring 86. Cam 84 is adapted to engage the contact spring87 and separate it from contact spring 88, it being understood that asuitable stop, not shown, is provided for the cam 84 when it is returnedby the spring 86. Springressed pawl 90 retains the ratchet and is aapted to be withdrawn from engagement therewith by the lever 91 operatedby the electromagnet 92. The first return movement of the carriage aftera record has been cut on one side of the blank rotates the ratchet wheel83 one tooth causing cam 84 to ap roach but not touch the-spring contact87. The second return movement of the carriage after the other side ofthe record blank has received its record rotates the as the recordblanks which are furnished for use with this machine are ratchet anothertooth and brings the cam 84 a into position to open the circuit betweensprings 87 and 88 which, as will be described later rendersthe mecha anyfurther recordingb until the coin-operated device has again eenoperated.

For the control of the two signal lights 9 and 10, which are shownarranged in front of the operator and which preferably are green and redrespectively, we have rovided the control switches 95 and 96. he formeris closed in response to' the downward movement of the stylusactuatingmechanism nism inoperative for naeasu 49, being adjusted tooperate when the carrlage in its forward movement-reaches the point atwhich the. lever 48 in riding down the cam 80 allows the stylus to comeinto contact with the record blank. Thus' the lighting of the greensignal lamp 9 notifies the operator that it is time'to begin to talk.When the carriage in its forward movement approaches its limitingposition, namely reaches a point at which the operatorhas but a fewseconds more to talk before the turntable is automatically stopped, itrides on an inclined portion of the switch 96 and closes the circuitthereof thus illuminating the red signallamp 10.

During the recording process the shavings from the blank fall from theturntable into the rece tacle 97 which surrounds the turntable. onnectedwith this receptacle by the pipe 98 is the motor driven exhausting fan99 and the collecting bag 100. The turntable preferably is providedwithtwo wipers or brushes 101 which move the shavings to- Ward theopening of the suction pipe 98 and pulverize the same. The motor of thisfan is connected to the switch 102 mounted on the door and arranged tobe operated by the unlocking movement of the handle 4 mounted on shaft103.

The switch 102 normally engages the fixed contact 104 which is includedin the operating and holding circuit of the master relay 4 105 havingarmature 106. When switch 102 is operated, however, it breaks contact104, thus releasing the master relay, and engages a second fixed contact107 which closes the circuit of the motor of the exhausting fan 99.- Thehand switch 8 by which the turntable is started and stopped at the willof the operator,

controls the motor relay 109 having armature 110 by which the motorcircuit is controlled.

Mounted preferably beneath the apparatus cabinet 6 in the booth is thecabinet 112 contaming suitable thermionic amplifying devices connectedwith the microphone? and with the electromagnetic cutter 49. Through theleads 113 circuit connections for the motors, the signal lights, therelays, the magnets, etc. are made with a suitable source of operativecurrent.

The operation of the above described apparatus is as follows: Anoperator desirous of recordlng a message would, according to printedinstructions, first insert a suitable coin, for example a piece, in theslot 13 and then turn the handle 14.; The turning of the handle '14operates to release one record blank from the bottom of the vendingmachine 12 within the booth and by the closing of the circuit atcontacts 17 and 18 by cam 16 energizes the coil 23 to unlock the door,which it will be understood was previously closed and locked. Theoperation of the unlocking means closes the circuit between contacts 25which shunts contacts 17, 18 to hold the door r unlocked after thehandle -14 has been released. The turning of'the handle 14 also closesthe circuit of the master relay 105 b the touchin of contacts 18 and 19,this circuit being comp eted through the switch 102'and contact 104. Assoon as the master relay 105 operates its armature closes a shuntcircuit about contacts 18 and 19 by which the relay is locked in closedposition. Closing of the relay 105 also closes the circuit of the domelight g 11. The operator-then pulls open the door and enters the booth,the opening movement of the door serving to release the door unlockingcircuit by the separation of contacts 27 1 and 28 whereby upon assumingclosed position the door again becomes locked. The operator now takesthe record blank which was released from the vending machine and Iplaces it upon the turntable 34, it being noted that the carriage andthe protective cover 57 has already been moved back clear of theturntable. The switch 8 is now grasped by the operator who stands orsits facing the i release the same and allow the carriage to be,

started on its forward movement by the spring 67. The half nut ,40thereupon engages the screw 44. As the carriage is slowly advanced thestylus supporting lever 48 slideson the cam 80 until the stylus is al-'I lowed to come .into cutting engagement with the record blank. At thisinstant the switch 95 is closed which illuminates the green light 9which is the signal to the operator that it is time to begin to talk.'By releasing and closing the hand switch 8 the operator may stop andstart the turntable as often as he pleases. When the carriage hasprogressed to a point which is within a few seconds of the limitingposition, the carriagerides upon the inclined portion of switch 96.andin closing the circuit of that switch illuminates the red lamp 10, thusnotifying the operator that he has but a few more seconds to talk. Uponreaching the limiting position the'carriage engages the rod 52whichopens motor circuit at. contacts'53 and 54. In this position of thecarriage the record cannot be removed.

The operator thereupon pulls up on the hand lever 56 which through lever63, bell cank lever 61 and finger 66 first lifts the stylus from therecord then withdraws the half nut 40 from the screw 44 and uponfurthermovement pushes the entire carriage back until it again becomesengaged by one or the other or both of the two hooks 68, 69. Inthisreturn movement of the carriage the stylus supporting lever 48 rides upon the cam 80 so the hand lever .to its initial fers, he may continuehis message on the reverse side of the blank. If he so desires he turnsover the record, placing it on the turntable as before and again graspsthe hand switch 8 and makes a second recordin in the same manner as hedid the first. T e first time that the carriage was moved back byosition the ratchet 83 was rotated one toot namely to the position shownin Fig. 1. In this position cam 84 attached to the ratchet wheelapproached but did not touch the contact spring 87. By the second turnmovement of the carriage the ratchet wheel 83 is rotated another toothwhich-is sufiicient to bring the cam 84 into operative engagement withthe contact spring 87 so as to open at that point.

the control circuit of hand switch 8. The operator is powerlessthereafter to start the motor until the ratchet and cam have beenrestored to their initial position. The ratchet is maintained in itsrotated position by the spring pressed pawl 90 which pawl is adapted tobeireleased by the energization of magnet 92. i

The operator now removes the blank from the turntable and by turning thedoor handle 4 unlatches the door and steps out of the booth. The act ofturning the handle 4 to unlock the door operates through the shaft 103and switch 102 to break the holding circuit of the master relay 105,allowing this relay to fall open. Operation of switch 102 also closes at107 the circuit of the electromagnet 92 and the motor of the exhaust fan99 so that'for the brief interval that the door handle 4 is operated theexhaust fan is in opera 'door sets the machine ready for the nextoperator. Since the circuit of the master relay 105 was opened by thefirst movement of the door handle 4 and switch 102 the entire mechanismnow is inoperative until the master relay is again energized by theinsertion of another coin in the coin-control'device and the turning ofhandle 14. Upon leaving the booth the door swings closed and lockswhereupon the entire apparatus is again in condi tion for anothercomplete operation in the manner above described.

' WVhat we claim as new and by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. Sound recording apparatus comprising" ord blank, means for rotatingsaid member,

a stylus supporting carriage, latching means for. retaining thecarriagein an inoperative posltlon, and means responslve to a movementof said rotating means for releasing said latching means.

2. Sound recording apparatus comprising a rotatable member-adapted tosupport a record blank, means for rotating said member, a stylussupporting carriage, a plurality of latching members for retaining thecarriage in inoperative position, and means operatively connected withsaid rotating means for successively moving said latching members to'unlatched position. a 7

3. Sound recording apparatus comprising a rotatable turntable, a stylussupporting carriage, means for moving the carriage uniformly during therecording operation, means by which the carriage is moved to aninoperative position, a pair'of latches for retaining the carriage insaid inoperative po sition, and means operatively connected wlth saidturntable for alternately lifting said latches to releasing position.

4. Sound recording apparatus comprising a turntable adapted to support arecord blank, a stylus carrying carriage, a motor. for I rotating saidturntable and advancing said carriage, means by which the'carriage isreturned to its initial position, a summation device arranged tobeactuated by each return movement of the .carriage, a switch forcontrolling the circuit of said motor, and means responsive to a secondreturn -movement of ,'said carriage for rendering said switchinoperative to start the'motor.

5. Sound recording apparatus comprising a turntable adapted to support arecord blank, a stylus carrying carriage, a motor for rotating saidturntable and advancing said carriage, means by which the. carriagev isreturned to its initial position, a ratchet device arranged to be moveda tooth in response to each return movement of the carriage, meansresponslve to a predetermined movement of said ratchet device forrendering the motor inoperative to rotate the turntable,

and manually controlled means for resetting said ratchet device.

6. In combination, a booth having a door,

sound recording apparatus therein, means responsive to the openingof'the door by an operator within the booth for rendering the recordingapparatus inoperative, and coin controlled means for rendering therecordingapparatus again operatlve.

In combination, a booth having a door, sound recording apparatus thereinhavlng means for rendering it inoperative after a v i predeterminednumber otoperations, means deslre to secure responsive to the opening ofthe door by an operator within the booth for restoring said first means,a second means responsive 'to said opening of the door for rendering therecording apparatus inoperative and coin-controlled means for restoringsaid second means.

8. In combination a booth having sound recording apparatus locatedtherein and hav ing a door provided witha lock biased tolockingposition, a vending machine includin a coin-controlled member, meanscontrolle by said member for moving the lock to unlocking position topermit opening the door,

and means responsive to an opening movement of the door for causing therelease of said lock.

9. Sound recording apparatus comprising a rotatable support adapted tocarry a record blank, a carriage, a stylus carrying member movablymounted thereon, means operatively connected with said support foradvancing said carriage, and means responsive to the advance of saidcarriage for controlling the movement of the stylus carrying memberrelative to the support and to the carriage at the beginning of therecording operation.

10. Sound recording apparatus comprising a rotatable support adapted tocarry a record blank, a stylus carying member mounted for'movementacross said support andfor movement toward and from the same, a signaldevice, and means for operating said signal device in'response tomovement of said member toward said support.

11. Sound apparatus comprising a turntable adapted to support a recordblank, a carriage a stylus supporting member carried thereby, means forslowly advancing said carriage in the forward direction relative to theblank from an initial inoperative position, means for maintaining thestylus out of engagement with the blank during said forward movementuntil a predetermined point is reached, and means operative to liftthestylus from the record and return the carriage to its initial position.

12. Sound recordin apparatus comprising a turnable adapt to support arecord blank, a styluscarrying member, a motor connected to rotate theturnable and to advance the member, manually o erable means for startingand stopping sai motor at the will of the operator, a signal device, acontrolling switch therefor arranged to be operated when the memberapproaches the limit of its movement, and a switch arranged to beoperated when the member reaches the limit of the movement fordeenergizing the motor.

13. Sound recording apparatus comprising a rotatable support adapted toreceive a record blank, a stylus carrying member adapted to be movedtoward and across said falling from said blank, said turntable havingmeans for pulverizing the shavings and a suction device connected towithdraw the shavin s from said receptacle.

15. ound recording. apparatus comprising a turntable adapted to supporta record blank while a record is being cut therein, a

receptacle surrounding said blank for catching the shaving therefrom,said turntable having means thereon cooperating with the receptacle forpulverizing the shavings and a motor driven suction device connectedwith said receptacle for removing'the pulverized shavin s therefrom. v

16. ound recording apparatus comprising a turntable adapted to support arecord blank during the cutting of a sound record, a receptacle arrangedto surround said, turntable and to catch the shavings therefrom,

and a suction device connected with said receptacle, said turntablehaving wipers carried thereby adapted topulv'erize said shavings and tomove them toward the entrance to the suction device.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set

